Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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DEFENSE MINISTER EXPLAINS NEED FOR COSTLY U.S ARMS PURCHASE

2004-07-02 22:22:14

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) Minister of National Defense Lee Jye Friday
explained the armed forces' rational for requesting the purchase of
US$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) in weaponry from the United
States, arguing that the materiel is vital for Taiwan's security.

In a briefing to local media, Lee said mainland China has doubled
its defense budgets in recently years, which is all the more
important given that Beijing has never backed away from its stance
that it would resort to force to bring Taiwan under the wing of the
mainland under certain conditions.

Although Beijing listed its 2003 defense budget as 185.3 billion
renminbi (US$22.4 billion) , its actually military expenditure is
estimated by the United States at two or three times that if budgets
for concealed non-military departments are figured in. Some analysts
have put the actual budget as high as six times the figure officially
released by Beijing, Lee said.

If mainland China's actual defense budget in 2003 is three times
what Beijing claims, that would be eight times Taiwan's defense
budget in 2003, Lee said.

What is more alarming, the minister said, is Taiwan's defense
budget as a percentage of gross domestic product, which has fallen
from 3.5 percent in 1995 to 2.49 percent in 2004.

The sharp contrast between the mainland and Taiwan in their
defense spending growth has tipped the balance of strength to the
mainland and the NT$610.8 billion arms purchase is aimed at
addressing this imbalance, Lee said.

The deal that includes the purchase of
anti-submarine airplanes, diesel submarines and patriot missiles
is urgently needed by the country, Lee
said.

The price of the deal will be paid over 15 years, which
translates to NT$40 billion each year in addition to the regular
defense budget of about NT$260 billion per year.

This would bring the budget to about NT$300 billion per
year, which is still less than 3 percent of GDP. This would not put
any constraints on the government's other budgets, nor would it
burden other major projects, Lee said.

Lee said he appreciated the public's concern about the country's
defense as shown by the fierce debate among politicians and ordinary
people about the wisdom of concluding the arms deal, but he said an
armed forces equipped with adequate weapons systems to ensure the
security of the people is indispensable for any country. Lee said he
hopes that the public can see the need for the arms and stand behind
the purchase program.